Any words of wisdom? Looking forward to starting a new career and wearing wings of gold, after a lot of hard work! If so, I'll be third generatin naval aviator

It might seem backwards going from a 121 gig to the navy but in todays market and crj pay rates.

Have any of you gone from civ flying into the navy? Re-learn to fly the navy way or was it pretty easy? I have a fair amount of time in extra 300's doing unlimt acro and not just crzn around the airways with the autopilot engaged much like flying the line is like.

 

A former squadron mate of mine was a Continental Express mil leave guy. He had some issues adjusting to the military style of flying but overall was very happy with his decision to serve.

OCS advice: Do not have anyone send you food in the mail (ex: cookies, beans, etc).

 

Just remember nobody cares what you did before you flew the T-34. You start spouting about how it's done in this plane or that, all the skills in the world won't change the fact that grading is purely subjective. P*ss off the IPs and you will struggle. Same for the pipeline plane you fly in Advanced, the fleet a/c your assigned and ESPECIALLY for the fleet. You will find the playing field is pretty level after you finish Primary anyway. Good luck.

 

study your arse off, get with others, group study.....i went thru the navy pipeline, and then i taught it, both api and t-6's, currently a 900 fo with XJ and i can say that navy flight school is way harder than a 121 course, mainly because there is a ton more info that may or may not be on the test that you have to know. with that said, if you arent having fun in flight school, then you are doing something wrong....i would also suggest if you havent already, get on airwarriors.com and sift thru that site, TONS of info you will want to know....its like APC, but for naval pilots.....

 

I figured I'll take it one day at a time and keep an open mind with a positive attitude. Many steps to take to getting winged but I know it will be worth it.

My Old Man and grandpa were "hookers" from the single seat mafia pipeline. Pops taught me to fly and was very strict(started when I was 14): I think I even got a "down" from him? Really enjoy acro and looking forward to something with a little more power then the extra 300.

"Happy to be here"

That NAMI phys was fun

 

As an AF guy going through Navy UPT, it was one hell of an experience. I wouldn't trade it for anything. The best advice the "AF Guys" got was during API and from a fellow AF instructor. He suspected that we "were taking the test outright" and not "playing the game." He suggested we find a Marine and combine forces. They had all the info when it came to "focusing" our studying. This proved well throughout all of the T-34 syllabus as well. Those guys were down there for OCS and then waited for months to start the flying course. Sooooooo... there was a huge bank of them waiting, a significant amount in training and some on casual waiting to continue to their follow-on. They had a "bible" at the time that they all took much pride in updating as necessary. Take it for what it's worth...

In the end, like everyone else has said, keep a positive attitude and get as much as possible out of it. Most importantly though... HAVE FUN!

cheers,
smee